Paul’s Teaching on Resurrection and Spiritual Maturity
The Personal Nature of Paul’s Goal
He said he has not attained to the resurrection of the dead (Phil. 3:11). Whatever Paul was talking about there, we need to be careful to conclude that we now exactly what he has in mind.
In my mind, it is different from person to person. Meaning, it is personal.
It is what Christ had in mind about you when He called you to be His own.
Paul here is saying that Christ’s hand is on him and leading him in a particular direction. He does not know when he will reach the goal. But he was very sure of one thing: he had not reached that goal. How many people can say they have reached that goal and be very truthful about it?
I believe it is a sign of humility for Paul to say he has not reached the pinnacle of the race that he has been called to. That he is still - mark this word - striving.
Some religions want to give you steps, and they tell you that once you can do these things, you are okay. So people strive to do those things.
But with Christianity, the goal is “resurrection,” not the coming one at the end of the age, which is assured for all believers, but being alive to God to the fullest extent. And what that would look like and the process it would take may differ from person to person.
Paul mentioned what he had died to, something he held firmly to, apart from Christ: righteousness based on the law.
Other preachers in his time tried to elevate the law and ask the people to be circumcised.
Paul is showing the people that he thinks differently, and rather than agree to the accusation that he wants the people to be lazy, he tells them what he is striving for, what he is making every effort toward - knowing Christ.
Knowing Christ vs. Following the Law
Which is harder: knowing Christ or following a checklist?
Knowing Christ.
Paul fully met the checklist of the law, but after decades as a Christian, he is still saying he has not attained, he is not perfected. That would communicate the fact that the law is for children, but Christ calls us to something higher, and it is more noble, and requires more effort, more “death”.
When it comes to the law, Paul said he was blameless (Philippians 3:6), but this one is harder. He shows you that the law is about avoiding blame, but Christianity is about much more.
That may be partly what Jesus meant when he said that our righteousness should not be more than the Pharisees’ (Matthew 5:20). According to Jesus, they wrongly equated the observance of the law with eternal life (John 5:39-40).
What we aim for as “right,” should be more than what to avoid, rather who to become: like Christ.
Paul may want to remove the accusation that the reason he was not following the law was that he wanted an easy way out (was lazy), and therefore constructed a doctrine that gave him an easy way out. I imagine that is a possible accusation.
Paul is saying far from it. It was the law that was easy because it provided a checklist to follow.
People might accuse Paul of constructing a doctrine that let him off the hook of divine demands. But he is saying far from it. After striving for many decades, “I have not yet attained. After praying, fasting, preaching, writing, suffering, being persecuted, seeing many revelations, I have not yet attained.”
He is saying those who put the law in front of you are shortchanging you, since there is something more in Christ.
And did Paul give them a series of steps for them to be able to attain? No.
How could he when he himself has not attained and continues to strive - make every effort? And verse 11 says, “somehow, to attain…”
Carrying Your Cross
Again, I say the word “resurrection” used in this passage may not mean what we think it means. It may be individualistic - the direction Christ has for you as an individual.
Basically, what have you been called to die to? What cross are you meant to bear? That seems to be the dimension of the resurrection you are supposed to express, i.e., what Christ has called you into.
“Carry your cross and follow me (Matthew 16:24)” is a two-edged sword. You are called to die. The carrying of the cross is a striving, and the resurrection is what God brings about as a result of that death.
So both the death and the resurrection are figures of more profound spiritual truth, just as the cross, though it was literal with Christ, is figurative with us.
What have you been called to die to? Paul is clear that he has been called to die to the righteousness that comes from the law, about which he constructed his life.
And he said he is not even perfect, but continues to strive. In what have you constructed your identity that you have been called to die to? What you are called to die to may not have a particular meaning to someone else.
They may even mock you, but that is part of the test, part of the cross - the misunderstanding, the name-calling.
Paul had to endure all that, struggle through it, not give up, and continue carrying his cross up the hill. The spiritual service he was supposed to offer as a minister is also part of the cross; the loss of reputation/persecution was also part of it.
Later on, he said:
I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith! Finally the crown of righteousness is reserved for me. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will award it to me in that day—and not to me only, but also to all who have set their affection on his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
Death and Resurrection in Paul’s Ministry
Let’s not think that Paul saying he wants to attain the resurrection from the dead means he would not die, or that he is trying not to die.
He said resurrection from the dead. I believe that means there are some things he would “die” to.
In another place, he said that death is working in him so that life might work in the lives of others (2 Corinthians 4:12).
He is dying (figuratively) so that others might experience spiritual life. So the death he experiences translates to (resurrection) life that others experience through him.
He also said he fills up what is lacking in the suffering of Christ.
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my physical body—for the sake of his body, the church—what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ. (Colossians 1:24)
What is lacking in the sufferings of Christ is the communication of the truth that the suffering represents. And Paul’s suffering is DIRECTLY linked with his communication of that truth, as a special emissary because of the revelations given to him.
He received blows for others to be enlivened.
He shares in the suffering of Christ, which is real-life identification with Christ. Christ suffered as the sacrifice before God. Paul is not that sacrifice. Paul suffered as he sacrificed his life in order to preach Christ. When Paul made a distinction between Christ and others, he asked, Was I crucified for you (1 Corinthians 1:13).
These are mysterious things beyond what a fixation on the law for righteousness can give.
From Addiction to Freedom by Favour Oyinloye
Nature Song
